Fletcher Norton (judge) facts for kids

Fletcher Norton (1744–1820) was a Scottish lawyer and a member of the British Parliament. He helped start the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1783, which is a famous group for science and learning.

Early Life and Education

Fletcher Norton was born on 16 November 1744. He was the second son of Fletcher Norton, 1st Baron Grantley and his wife, Grace Chapple.

He went to two well-known schools in England: Harrow School and Eton College, from 1756 to 1762. After school, he studied law at University College, Oxford, starting in 1762. He also studied at the Middle Temple in London from 1765. The Middle Temple is one of the places where lawyers are trained.

Career in Law and Politics

Fletcher Norton became a lawyer on 9 June 1769. This is called being "Called to the Bar." Later, on 23 January 1795, he became a judge.

He also worked in politics. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Appleby-in-Westmorland from 1773 to 1774. Then, he was an MP for Carlisle from 1774 to 1775. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the country's government.

From 1776 until he died, Fletcher Norton was a special judge in Scotland. His title was "Baron of the Exchequer." This job involved dealing with money and taxes for the government. He held this position for a very long time.

Later Life and Legacy

Fletcher Norton passed away on 19 June 1820, in Abbeyhill in Edinburgh, Scotland. His body was brought back to England. He was buried in his family's special burial place in Wonersh.

The house where he lived in Edinburgh was later taken down. This made space for the Abbeyhill Station. Today, his name is still remembered in Edinburgh. There are local street names like "Norton Place" and "Norton Park."

Family Life

In 1793, Fletcher Norton married Caroline Elizabeth Balmain. She was the daughter of James Balmain. They had eight children together. Some of their children included George Chapple Norton, Charles Francis Norton, and Fletcher Norton, 3rd Baron Grantley.